Body treating apparatus



June 23, 1953 ggo p gu' v 2,642,863

I BODY-TREATING APPARATUS INVENTOR.

Patented June 23, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to and has for a purpose the provision of an apparatus which, by the user, is applicable to any part of the body and readily operated to relieve himself of pain resulting from subnormal blood circulation, through the application to the skin of heat in the presence or absence of a partial vacuum, whereby the circulation of blood in the area of the existing pain is sufliciently increased to relieve the user of pain in that area.

I will describe only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of apparatus embodying my invention, as applied to the spine of the user.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the apparatus without the operating devices shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4, showing the apparatus applied to the skin of the user and in one of the two positions which it is adapted to occupy.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.5 showing the apparatus in the other position.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line l-| of Fi 5.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the nozzle shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring specifically to the drawings my invention in its present embodiment comprises a body designated generally at B which may be per end of the spring I9 is received within the v collar and bears against the shoulder 2| so as to normally urge the section I6 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 6.

The upper end of the lower section I5 is provided with an opening 22 in which the upper section is freely movable, and to provide between the two sections an inlet for air to tion I5 from atmosphere when the upper section is in elevated position. In the lowered position of the section I6, an annular gasket 23 bears against an annular flange 24, bounding the opening 22 to form an airtight seal between the'two sections and to thereby close the opening 22.

The lower end of the section I5 has secured thereto, by means of screws 25, a collar 26 which serves to attach the upper end 21a of a conical and corrugated cup 21 formed of rubber, to the lower end of the section I5. This collar also serves to secure a pair of ears- 28 on the'upper end of a nozzle 29, to the lower end of the section I5. This nozzle 29 is of tubular form and is provided at its lower end with a plurality of ports 36. The nozzle is provided with an annular groove 3| in which the upper end of a helical spring 32 is received to attach the spring to the nozzle. This spring is of conical form and covered with rubber 32a, its lower end being concentric to the cup 21 and normally coplanar with the lower end of the cup.

Theupper section I6 is constructed to provide a chamber 33 and a pipe 3'4 axially of the chamber and depending from the section to be slidably received in the nozzle 29. Adjacent the lower end of the pipe a sealing ring 35 is carried to prevent leakage of air between the pipe and the .nozzle. The upper end of the pipe 34 leads to a passage 36 in the upper section I 6, and extended into this passage is a pipe 31 connected at its outer end to a hose 38 which leads to a suitable source (not shown) of heated air under pressure.

The section I6 is constructed to provide a pipe vided exteriorly with a pair of diametrically opposed ears '44 which are slidable on the posts 42 to allow the section I6 to telescope within the section I5 and to limit upward movement of the section I6 under the urging action of the spring I9, it being understood that the cars 44 abut the heads 43 in limiting such movement.

A pair of eyes 45 are formed on each of the enter the sec ears 44, and in these eyes snap-hooks are engaged to connect a pair of manipulating devices 41 to the section [6. These devices are shown as comprising elastic cords 48 connected to the snap-hooks 46 at one end and to two handle grips 49 at the other.

In the use of my apparatus, without the devices 41, the apparatus is applied to any area of the body in which pain exists resulting from subnormal blood circulation, so that the open end of the cup 21 covers and is in contact with the skin overlying that area. With the hoses 38 and 40 connected, respectively, to a source of heated air under pressure, and a suction-pump,-

heated air will be supplied to the pipe 34 to be discharged into the cup through the nozzle ports 30, while a suction is produced in the pipe 39..

By the user now pressing axially on the section IS in the direction of the section [5, the section I6 is first moved from the elevated or open position shown in Fig.'6-to the lowered or. closed posi-.

tion shown "in Fig; 5,;wherein the gasket. abuts the. flange 24 to close :the openingw22m Further pressure onthe section I it :forces the cup 21.-

firmly against the users skin, indicated at. 50, to seal the skin .area covered by the cup against the escape of the heated .air' so that such air as emitted from the nozzle is discharged directly against the skin.. Concurrently with pressing of the cup.against the :skimthe "large end of the.-

spring .32 is forced against; the skin for a purpose. to be later describedherein';

Now that both the 'opening22 and the outer end of the cup 2'! are.-closed-against the egress of air to atmosphere, the suction created in the pipe 39 by the suction pumpzbecomes effective to With the apparatus operating as described, the

stream of heated air as discharged. from :the nozzle and against the-skin: functionsznot only, to a open the skin pores and thus relieve them of.

perspiration, but to stimulate the flow of blood. in and beneath that and adjacent skin.-.areas.;'v

Under the'd rawing action'imposed onthetskin: by the partial vacuum created in the cup,.iblood circulation is further stimulated. The net result is that the user is almost instantly and completely relieved of any pain in and beneath that:

skin area caused by pressure on the nerves resulting from blood congestion.

In many instances a person may relieve himself of pain by use of the heated air alone and dispensing with the vacuum, since the air as continuously and directly applied to the skin at. suitable temperatures operates to stimulate blood circulation to relieve congestion in any area of the body to which it is applied. When the vacuum is not used, the pipe 39 is disconnected from the hose 4!) to provide an outlet through' open position in which the opening 22 is opened to place the interior of the section IS in communication with atmosphere to break the vacuum created in the cup 21 through the pipe 39. This relieves the skin of any drawing action by the vacuum so that the cup can be shifted to any position without injury to the skin. Thus the apparatus can be applied to any part of the body where the hands of the user can hold the apparatus in position on-the skin,

The manipulating devices 4! are designed for use of the apparatus on the back of the user's body, and particularly along the spine. With these devices applied to the section [6 as described, the user can, by extending the cords 48 beneaththe arms (see Fig. 1) and placing them under. tension by pushing forwardly on the handle grips 49,'press the cup 21 against the skin, and by increasing the tension on the cords move the section It to closed position in relation to the opening 22,\so that the heated air .and vacuum Will-,operatev to stimulate the blood circulation.

along; the spine andmore particularly between and around the vertebrae.

Manifestly, the. devices ll-can be to shift theapparatus from point to pointalong the spine or to any other position on the backv of the user. Incident to such shifting, the cords.

48 are relieved of tension to allow the section 15 to move to open position under the action of the spring [9 so that the vacuum in the cup 21 will be broken topermit such shifting without.

injury to the skin. The .cords being elastic can be stretched to exercise the users arms while the apparatus is applied, if so desired.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying .myin

vention, it is to be understood. that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my inven '7 tion and the.- spirit and scopeof the appended claims;

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus of the. character described, including: a hollow body having a first section first section and disposed within:the.cup; a pipe fixed to the. second section and telescoping. in the nozzle an inlet passage in the second section leading to the pipe and adapted for connection to-a source of hot air under pressure; an outlet passage in the second section leading to the interior. of the first section, and adapted for connection to a source of vacuum; and manually operable means for pressing the cup into contact with the skin, 'and'moving the second section to close the inlet end'of the first section.

2. An. apparatus of the character described, including: a hollow body having a first section provided with an open inlet end and an open outlet end, and a second section telescoping in the first section to occupy one position in which it closes the inlet end and another position in which it opens the inlet end; means for urging the second section to the second :mentioned position; a cup secured to and surrounding the outlet. end of the first section; a nozzle fixed to the, firstsection and disposed within .the cup; a

manipulated pipe fixed to the second section and telescopingin the nozzle; an inlet passage in the second section leading to the pipe and adapted for connection to a source of hot air under pressure; an outlet passage in the second section leading to the interior of the first section, and adapted for connection to a source of vacuum; and handle-carrying cords connected to the second section at diametrically opposed points operable manually to press the cup into contact with a person's body and also to move the second section to close the inlet end of the first section against the urging action of said means.

3. An apparatus as embodied in claim 1, wherein a helical spring is secured to the nozzle and disposed within the cup.

4. An apparatus as embodied in claim 1, wherein a helical spring of cone form is fixed at its small end to the nozzle so that its large end is substantially coplanar with the outer end of the cup.

5. An apparatus of the character described, in-

eluding: a hollow body having a first section prosecond section to the first mentioned position; a

cup secured to and surrounding the outlet end of the first section; a nozzle fixed to the first section and disposed within the cup; an inlet passage in the second section communicating with the nozzle and adapted for connection to a source of hot air under pressure; and an outlet passage in the second section leading to the interior of the first section.

HARRY L. GORDON.

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Apr. 20, 1931 Number 

